August 2018 Newsletter

J.M.J.

August 10, 2018

Dear parents of St. John the Baptist Catholic School,

I trust that you were satisfied with your children`s second term report cards, which were handed out at the beginning of this term. If not, please do not hesitate to call and make an appointment to speak with their teachers. The next official, organized parent-teacher meetings will take place on the first Friday of the fourth term, after you have received the third term report cards.

You will find enclosed with this letter the 2019 registration forms. They are due for return by September 15, 2018. If they are returned, then a place will be reserved for the student, but if not the school will presume that the student is not returning to study here in 2019. Remember that we have a limit of 20 per class, and that we will take the first 20 that sign up, including the new students whose applications have already been accepted. Registration forms that come in late will be placed on a waiting list in case a vacancy opens up.

In fact, only 134 of the 225 families presently in the school are receiving these registration forms. Those of you who have not received one have been excluded for one of several reasons: - either because you are behind in paying school fees, or because your children are failing, or because of an attitude or disciplinary problem, or because they refuse to observe the full uniform requirements of St. John the Baptist Catholic School. It may be possible to resolve these issues by speaking with me, but I encourage you to do so before the classes fill up.

We like to organize one field trip every year for each class. I realize that this involves a cost and makes for a sacrifice for the parents, but the children do enjoy it, and such trips help create a good school spirit. Moreover, we are very careful to make sure that these field trips are educational. Grades 5, 6 & 7 will be going to Happy Acres for a Natural Science outdoors presentation and project in Magaliesburg on Wednesday August 29. The cost is R 130 per student. Grades R & 1 will be going to the Honeydew Maze on Friday August 31, and the cost for this trip is R 150. Explanatory letters and permission forms will be handed out separately. They must be returned to the school office along with the money by Monday August 27 at the latest. Parents who would like to accompany the field trip may do so.

Our annual jog-a-thon is coming up on Wednesday September 5. This is a fundraiser for our school. Funds raised will be used for site improvements, that are presently ongoing. Every student in the school must run the jog-a-thon for one hour. Grades R – 2 will run at 11:00 am, Girls in Grades 3 – 10 at 12:00 Noon and Boys in Grades 3 – 12 at 1:00 pm. Each child is asked to find ten sponsors, who will sponsor a donation per lap. The number of laps will be counted by the faculty. Prizes will be given to those who run the most laps and those who raise the most money for the school. Your help and cooperation is necessary for the success of this fundraiser. We believe that this little effort to run for their school is very important for the children, that they might have pride in their school, and be able to contribute themselves to the good of the school from which they receive so much. Parents who are available are invited to come and watch – or even to run! Forms to obtain sponsorships are included with this letter. More copies are available from the school office as required.

St. John the Baptist started an after-care program at the beginning of this term. It has already proven to be a great success. The children who attend are supervised until 6:00 pm, and as well as a break and some recreation are carefully watched and helped to complete their homework and also to do some additional work. It has already brought about a significant improvement in the performance of the children who attend. It is a great alternative for parents who come home late from work and cannot supervise their children`s homework themselves.

Boldened by the success of this venture, I dare to launch another project. I would like to start a small boarding facility for boys who attend the school. I have the staff and the facilities already available. Boys in the boarding facility would live a disciplined and ordered life of prayer, study and recreation and would never be without supervision, and would be protected from the television and the distractions of the world so as to truly succeed academically, physically, socially and spiritually. Any parents who are interested may contact me.

As you may be aware, it is a constant problem for us to exclude lollies, lollipops, chewing gum and soda drinks from the school. The reason is that they render the children hyperactive and difficult to control. Henceforth they are strictly forbidden. The tuck shop may not sell these items, and children are not to bring them to school. If they are found, they will be confiscated.

This coming Wednesday August 15, is a holy day of obligation in South Africa. We will have school and classes as usual, but insure that the children fulfill their spiritual duties. All students will assist at Mass, and will also recite the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary to honour Our Lady on the feast of her glorious victory by being taken up into heaven body and soul. On that feast day we will renew the consecration of the school to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, first done four years ago, and we will encourage the children to practice devotion to Our Lady, as a great means of maintaining purity, generosity, and the love of the Cross and of obtaining the grace of persevering in the love of God which we must all keep until we depart this earthly life.

Yours faithfully in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.